Pathankot (Gurpreet Singh): Tourist bus carrying Vaishno Devi devotees stalls in flooded stretch; midnight operation by SSF and police ensures all passengers are safe
A quick response by emergency personnel prevented a major tragedy in Punjab’s Pathankot after a tourist bus carrying 55 pilgrims became trapped inside a flooded railway underpass during heavy overnight rain. The passengers, including 13 children, were rescued safely following a coordinated operation by the Road Safety Force (SSF), Punjab Police, and local residents.
The incident took place near Sujanpur on the Jalandhar–Jammu National Highway, where intense rainfall led to severe water accumulation beneath a railway bridge. The bus, which was returning to Dehradun after the passengers completed their pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi, lost power after entering the submerged underpass.
As water rapidly surrounded the vehicle, frightened passengers alerted emergency services. Officials said the distress message was received shortly before 2 a.m., following which rescue teams rushed to the location without delay.
Within minutes, SSF personnel and police officials reached the flooded site and began evacuating passengers. Battling darkness, continuous rainfall and rising water, the teams safely escorted every passenger out of the stranded vehicle. Local volunteers also joined the operation, helping children, women and elderly devotees reach safer ground.
Passengers later recalled the tense moments inside the bus, saying they feared the water level would continue rising. Many expressed gratitude to the rescue teams, crediting their swift intervention for preventing a potentially fatal incident.
Police officials said preliminary findings indicate the driver entered the underpass without realising the depth of the accumulated rainwater. Poor visibility due to heavy rain and darkness made it difficult to assess the situation. As the bus moved forward, water entered the engine, forcing the vehicle to stop in the middle of the flooded stretch.
After ensuring the safety of all passengers, authorities used heavy machinery to tow the bus out of the underpass and restore traffic movement on the highway.
Officials have once again appealed to motorists to avoid driving through flooded roads and underpasses during the monsoon, stressing that even a small miscalculation can put lives at risk. They also advised travellers to follow weather updates and heed traffic diversions issued during periods of heavy rainfall.
The successful midnight rescue has been widely appreciated, with the prompt coordination between the SSF, police and local citizens ensuring that all 55 pilgrims escaped unharmed despite the dangerous conditions.
